World Zoos Working Together

Thursday, October 15, 2015

by Lincoln Park Zoo

in

Posts from the President

Greetings from Al Ain! I’ve spent the week in the United Arab Emirates, meeting with zoo directors from around the world at the 70th Annual Conference of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Lincoln Park Zoo President and CEO Kevin Bell traveled to the United Arab Emirates for the 70th Annual Conference of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

It’s been fascinating to experience the local landscape, both desert and urban, and I’ve enjoyed touring the Al Ain Zoo, which plays a leading role in conserving endangered desert species, notably the Arabian oryx. The real reason for the conference, though, is to get experts from around the world to sit down together to discuss how we can all collaborate to save species.

Animals around the globe are facing similar pressures—habitat loss, urban expansion, and, in some tragic cases, gruesome poaching. At the same time, zoos are increasingly finding common ground in advancing animal conservation and care.

Two new statements--"Committing to Conservation" and "Caring for Wildlife"--were released at the 2015 WAZA meeting.

Toward that end, I’m excited to share that this WAZA meeting saw the release of “Committing to Conservation—The World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy.” This strategy establishes conservation as a core focus for all zoos and aquariums, and it outlines a One-Plan Approach to share conservation messages with the 700 million annual visitors we receive every year.

While conservation is crucial, zoos also have the top priority of ensuring that our animals receive the very best in care, and that was reflected in the WAZA conference as well. “Caring for Wildlife: The World Zoo and Aquarium Welfare Strategy,” aims to establish global best practices for animal welfare, ensuring that we’re all working from the same playbook to promote our animals’ well-being. Lincoln Park Zoo has been a leader in this area as well, from the non-invasive stress studies conducted by experts at the Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology to the ongoing wellness monitoring conducted by Jason Wark, Ph.D., the zoo’s latest post-doc for animal welfare.

Conservation and care have long been core priorities at Lincoln Park Zoo, and it’s heartening to see institutions from around the globe sign their own commitment to the future of wildlife. From spots around the globe, we can make a great difference for the animals we love by working together.

Kevin Bell

Learn More

Protecting a Refuge for Great Apes
By adding the Goualougo Triangle to the national park system, the Republic of Congo has ensured this pristine landscape will remain untouched. As a result, zoo researchers will continue to make groundbreaking discoveries about wild chimpanzees and gorillas for decades to come.

Prairie Pioneers
Eight smooth green snakes were reintroduced into their native Illinois habitat last July in a joint conservation effort between the zoo and the McHenry County Conservation District.

Hormone Detectives
Studying the hormones of animals can inform a wide array of researchers' decisions, including breeding, stress and introductions. Learn more about this vital information here.